Women's Squash: Maine takes Constable Cup from Siebert

Maine was a highly touted field hockey and lacrosse recruit before joining the women’s squash team last year. Maine, a former No. 1 player for the U.S. junior squash squad, has steadily edged herself toward the Tigers’ top spot. With junior Neha Kumar out indefinitely with a wrist injury, Maine gained the No. 2 position on the team’s ladder coming into the weekend. The ladder determines who will play whom and grades the players one through nine.

On the collegiate squash ladder, meanwhile, the Tigers (6-0 overall) are currently ranked No. 1 in the country, boosted by their back-to-back national championship Howe Cups. In three weeks, Princeton will face off against the No. 2 Quakers (5-0), who lost last year’s Howe Cup 6-3 and will be out for some un-Quaker-like revenge.

This weekend, however, was all about the Tigers. In the past, the Constable Cup pitted the top intercollegiate women’s squash players against each other on Jadwin Gymnasium’s squash courts. This year, Princeton filled all the brackets, so there was no doubt that the Constable Cup would stay with the host.

The Cup is named after Betty Constable, who passed away last September and was Princeton’s first women’s squash coach.

The two finalists this year are very familiar with each other’s games. Not only do they see each other in practice, they have even competed against each other. Siebert won last year’s Constable Cup, going the distance to defeat Maine in the semifinal, 9-2, 5-9, 9-3, 10-8. With Maine seeded second, such a rematch would not be possible.

“It is always fun to play Amanda because we have such similar games, and each point is a battle,” Maine said.

Using their height, both athletes can cover the court with a few quick strides and play the length of the court easily. Maine’s strength, a legacy of her lacrosse career, might give her an edge in power, but Siebert employed a variety of dropout shots to change the pace against Maine.

“I was quite happy with the way all the girls played this weekend,” head coach Gail Ramsay said.

In what was essentially a Princeton challenge match, senior tri-captain Maggie O’Toole won the back draw to solidify her place as the team’s No. 5 player. O’Toole closed out fellow senior tri-captain Aly Brady in the consolation match.